Cell-free synthesis of membrane proteins: Tailored cell models out of microsomes

Incorporation of proteins in biomimetic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) is one of the hallmarks towards cell models in which we strive to obtain a better mechanistic understanding of the manifold cellular processes. The reconstruction of transmembrane proteins, like receptors or channels, into GUVs is a special challenge. This procedure is essential to make these proteins accessible to further functional investigation. Here we describe a strategy combining two approaches: cell-free eukaryotic protein expression for protein integration and GUV formation to prepare biomimetic cell models. The cell-free protein expression system in this study is based on insect lysates, which provide endoplasmic reticulum derived vesicles named microsomes. It enables signal-induced translocation and posttranslational modification of de novo synthesized membrane proteins. Combining these microsomes with synthetic lipids within the electroswelling process allowed for the rapid generation of giant proteo-liposomes of up to 50 μm in diameter. We incorporated various fluorescent protein-labeled membrane proteins into GUVs (the prenylated membrane anchor CAAX, the heparin-binding epithelial growth factor like factor Hb-EGF, the endothelin receptor ETB, the chemokine receptor CXCR4) and thus presented insect microsomes as functional modules for proteo-GUV formation. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy was applied to detect and further characterize the proteins in the GUV membrane. To extend the options in the tailoring cell models toolbox, we synthesized two different membrane proteins sequentially in the same microsome. Additionally, we introduced biotinylated lipids to specifically immobilize proteo-GUVs on streptavidin-coated surfaces. We envision this achievement as an important first step toward systematic protein studies on technical surfaces.     

Construction of a recombinant BHV-1 expressing the VP1 gene of foot and mouth disease virus and its immunogenicity in a rabbit model

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) are two important infectious diseases of cattle. Using bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) as a gene delivery vector for development of live-viral vaccines has gained widespread interest. In this study, a recombinant BHV-1 was constructed by inserting the synthetic FMDV (O/China/99) VP1 gene in the the gE locus of BHV-1 genome under the control of immediately early gene promoter of human cytomegalovirus (phIE CMV) and bovine growth hormone polyadenylation (BGH polyA) signal. After homologous recombination and plaque purification, a recombinant virus named BHV-1/gE⁻/VP1 was acquired and identified. The immunogenicity was confirmed in a rabbit model by virus neutralization test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The result indicated that the BHV-1/gE⁻/VP1 has the potential for being developed as a bivalent vaccine for FMD and IBR.     

Helicobacter Hypothesis for Idiopathic Parkinsonism: Before and Beyond

We challenge the concept of idiopathic parkinsonism (IP) as inevitably progressive neurodegeneration, proposing a natural history of sequential microbial insults with predisposing host response. Proof-of-principle that infection can contribute to IP was provided by case studies and a placebo-controlled efficacy study of Helicobacter eradication. "Malignant" IP appears converted to "benign", but marked deterioration accompanies failure. Similar benefit on brady/hypokinesia from eradicating "low-density" infection favors autoimmunity. Although a minority of UK probands are urea breath test positive for Helicobacter , the predicted probability of having the parkinsonian label depends on the serum H. pylori antibody profile, with clinically relevant gradients between this "discriminant index" and disease burden and progression. In IP, H. pylori antibodies discriminate for persistently abnormal bowel function, and specific abnormal duodenal enterocyte mitochondrial morphology is described in relation to H. pylori infection. Slow intestinal transit manifests as constipation from the prodrome. Diarrhea may flag secondary small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This, coupled with genetically determined intense inflammatory response, might explain evolution from brady/hypokinetic to rigidity-predominant parkinsonism.     

一步法扩增克隆IBDV上海超强毒VP2-4-3基因

分离、纯化了鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒超强毒 (vvIBDV) 上海株SH95的病毒核酸dsRNA,应用随机引物将RNA反转录成cDNA,以此为模板一步扩增出A片段前体融合蛋白基因即VP2-4-3基因,将其克隆入pGEM-T载体,并进行序列分析,其与超强毒株HK46的核苷酸序列的同源性达98%,整个基因有5个氨基酸差异,同源性达99.51%(1007/1012).     

自然界斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒的基因型多态性

【目的】从基因组序列角度进一步揭示自然界斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒（Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus, SpltNPV）的基因型多态性。【方法】病毒克隆A5, F1, X3 和 X15分别以活体克隆法分离自SpltNPV埃及株、 日本福冈株和日本小笠原株。根据SpltNPV基因组全序列（GenBank登录号: AF325155）和海灰翅夜蛾核型多角体病毒（S. littoralis NPV, SpliNPV）部分基因序列（GenBank登录号: X99377, X99376 和X98924）设计引物, PCR扩增获得A5, F1, X3 和 X15的多角体蛋白（polyhedrin, polh）基因和ORF18~ORF23序列。【结果】根据多角体蛋白基因序列, X3和X15属于SpltNPV型, 而A5和F1属于SpliNPV型。将A5, F1, X3 和 X15的ORF18~ORF23与SpltNPV和SpliNPV相应的基因序列进行同源性比较。结果发现, F1与SpliNPV以及X3与SpltNPV的核苷酸序列相似性高, 但X3的ORF20在172~558 nt处缺失387 bp。尽管依据多角体蛋白基因序列X15属于SpltNPV型, 但对于ORF18~ORF23序列, X15与SpliNPV的相似性高于与SpltNPV的相似性。同样, A5属于SpliNPV型, ORF18~ORF20与SpliNPV相应的核苷酸序列相似性高, 但ORF21与SpltNPV相应的核苷酸序列一致性为100%, 特别是ORF22, SpltNPV的特有序列出现在A5的基因组中, 而且与SpltNPV的ORF22一致性为100%; 反过来, ORF23又与SpliNPV相应的核苷酸序列相似性高。【结论】所有这些都表明, SpltNPV在自然界不仅存在基因型多态性, 而且即使属于同一基因型, 它们的基因组序列也有显著差异。可利用SpltNPV在自然界的这种异质性筛选适宜防治斜纹夜蛾幼虫的株系。